Best Places to Party in Southeast Asia

July 4, 2015

SE Asia has some fun parties. Many of my nights spent in some of these places are a blur of glitter, neon paint, and countless buckets. This list was made to give you some of the best places (in my opinion!) if you are looking for a good time. That being said, don’t get lost in some of these places (as many do!) and become one of those people who doesn’t know what month it is and who thinks Southeast Asia is all just a blur of foreigners clad in bikinis and endless mojito buckets. These places are extremely fun for a short period of time. Just don’t let them make you lose track of why you really came to Southeast Asia, which hopefully was to discover a new culture and expand your knowledge of the world around you.

Anyways… have fun!

Best Places to Party in Southeast Asia

Koh Phi Phi, Thailand

Koh Phi Phi is one of my favorite places to dance and have a good time. It has a very laid back vibe during the day, while the night-time revelry begins early and goes till very late. There are fire shows on the beach, muay thai fights, and endless drinking and dancing under the stars. Book your accommodation off the beach, or don’t plan on sleeping till at least 3am, as the bass from the speakers is very loud.

Vang Vieng, Laos

From what I hear, Vang Vieng is not the same crazy party place as it was a couple of years ago. Many of the bars that used to cater to backpackers floating down the river in tubes have been burned down by the government because they were safety hazards. However, I have heard from other backpackers that although not quite as rowdy as it used to be, it still is a very fun place to go tubing and relax by the river.

Koh Phangan, Thailand

Koh Phangan is home to the original famous monthly Full Moon Party, as well as many other moon parties. And Jungle Parties. And Waterfall Parties. I am actually not a huge fan of the Full Moon Party, as it is extremely crowded and somewhat dangerous. However, it is one of the craziest parties in the world and should be checked off your bucket list.

Siem Riep Pub Street, Cambodia

Pub Street is home to many bars where the music, dancing, and drinking continues on into the wee hours of the morning. It is home to the famous Angkor What?! Bar, as well as many competing bars along the street. If you get sick of one bars music, you can just walk along to the next place.

Bali, Indonesia

Kuta Beach is not one of my favorite places, and it was here I got my bag stolen by a motorcycle driver, so be careful! However, it is quite a fun place to party and it gives more of a city nightlife vibe then some of the other places, with multiple level clubs and huge dance floors.

Gili Trawangan, Indonesia

Aside from having beaches that look like they could be taken out of a magazine spread, the Gili Islands have a great nightlife. Part of the reason is that there is no police force on the island.

Sihanoukville, Cambodia

In my opinion, Sihanoukvile has a bit of a sleazy feel to it, but it is the place to go if you are looking for a beach party. Start your night off with a 5 dollar seafood barbecue and beers on the sand and head to one of the many bars lining the beach around midnight for a lively party atmosphere.

Looking back on my experiences in Southeast Asia, I definitely don’t regret any of my nights out, although my older self thinks that I probably could have been a bit more cautious and consumed a few less buckets. I know that there are many more valuable experiences to be had traveling, but there is no denying that my nights spent in Asia dancing with new friends from cheap hostels have to be some of my favorite memories.

These are my favorite places in SE Asia to have a good time and get up to a bit of nighttime revelry. Did I miss anywhere? What are your opinions?

Comments

There are some awesome bars in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I went to several bars on a Sunday night after visiting the Sunday night market, and it was a blast. One was a reggae bar, and another place (can’t remember the name right now) but it had a live DJ and played top 40’s as well as dance music. It had an open area patio and deck with numerous picnic style tables where you can sit, and enjoy food and drinks, then hit up the dance floor. If you exit out the back there are rows and rows of bars. However, most close up early around 2am, and even before then crowds start to disperse early. They start to drink and party pretty early. It’s also extremely convenient for backpackers cause there are several hostels within the near vicinity. I loved the nightlife scene in Chiang Mai. It gave you big city/small city vibe at the same time.

I also forgot to add, Greenbelt in Makati City, Philippines. You have to pass through the mall to get to the outside, but once there, there is live music and numerous small bars, coffee shops and restaurants. From here you can see numerous sky high rise condos/hotels. It’s pretty scenic, and a lot of fun. A lot of locals and travelers go here.

This post had me feeling so nostalgic!! I haven’t been to Laos but possibly next year. Philippines does have good night life, possibly in all of SEAsia. The music scene is definitely coming up. But if you’re looking for the similar laidback backpacker party style, Boracay is definitely not to be missed!

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Hi, I'm Kaitlyn. I have a passion for backpacking and and inspiring other women to do the same. My bucket list is long and ever growing, and I am constantly brainstorming new ways to get out and see this beautiful world. Read more >>